Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General question about speeding

My bro lived with a State troopers son and knew all the local boys, they told him they're taught that on the freeway anyway, not to even bother with anyone doing 5-10 over, cause it's basically a waste of time. If you stay between 5-10 over and blend in like everyone says, you shou7ld be good to go.

Actually, this is somewhat related to speeding, and I'd just like to hear your opinion.

On interstate, I always try to go 5-15 mph above limit (this is usually 80), and always try to pass - and the reason for this is not that I'm so agressive, but it is a way to keep me awake.

I'm often driving for several hours, and this is my way to avoid road fatigue and sleepiness. If you go always just a bit faster that the others, then there's always something to watch out for, there's always something to pay attention to - I think if I set the CC at 70 and just blend in the line I'd be asleep in 2-3 hrs.

So I think this is just safer for me. Don't get me wrong, I don't try to go too fast, but I think my car and more importantly my reactions are able to handle speeds under 85-90, so there's always a safety margin.

_sometimes_ I go above 100 for a short while, but always only after making sure that the situation is completely safe (flat/straight/dry road, no slow traffic etc), but on a public road I never feel easy about it - I retain the right to risk my car and life , but I do not wish to do so with others', let it be an other driver or a deer or a dog or anything else wandering along the road.

Of course, I always wanted to try myself and my car on a track - there I wouldn't have such concerns, and I'd happily speed as fast as I can

Fortunately, I never had the opportunity to tell this story to a cop, but I'm really curious how'd they react to it.

Tivadar

I recently visited Brown County state park here in Indiana. Some kick ass driving. Usually only couple miles at a time, but amazing fun.. Best thing is that speed is usually below 60mph so it's fairly safe fun...

Of course SCCA season is starting up again..Seems like it's time to sign up..

I have had two tickets this year first one was for doing 78 in a 65 and the second was for doing 71 in a 55 and that is my third ticket is two years. Two of them were for $110 and the other one is for $85 and now I think I have 8 points and two of them are from a accident that I had in my tour. And I also have a detector. So I would tell to slow it down other wise you will not be driving your tour for a while.

Here's some advice I've gotten:
blend in
use cruise control to be in gap on hwy
do runs to check if there are cops, then do a high speed run, then go home
get a good detector

Go fast to stay awake... I like this idea and I do use it, but I have doubts as to whether or not a judge would buy it! Logically it makes some sense - go marginally faster to stay astronomically more awake, but legally I just don't think it would fly.

Question though, does anybody have a particular mindset they routinely use to avoid temptation to speed? This is really what I'm interested in....
Right now I'm edging towards "I can't afford this"
thanks.

I often drive 47 in Illinois from I-80 to Dwight. And I make sure to NEVER speed on that stretch, because there are always cops there, looking for people goign even 5 over. :rolleyes:

The slow passes to make sure no cops is a good one. I use that a lot. Blending in is very good too. I've also been meaning to get a radar detector, but I dont have enough money to get one that acctually works well.

> I often drive 47 in Illinois from I-80 to
> Dwight. And I make sure to NEVER speed on that
> stretch, because there are always cops there,
> looking for people goign even 5 over.

I'll occasionally see cops along there; maybe I've been lucky. Again though, I go all the way to I-74, maybe it's just better in Livingston County and the one south of that.

--T.J., who had two tickets and an accident in 2000, but clean before and since...

All i want to say is that there aren't many speeders here on maui.. especially since a lot of people have bumper stickers that say "slow down.. this ain't the mainland".. don't ask me for help on speeding.. i hardly do it.. Or maybe you should get a custom bumper sticker that says, "I speed only when i gotta sh*t" the cops might actually let you go..

read some of the advise given on Cartalk.com. Those two seem to put things into perspective. Also, I heard a study about 5 years ago that concluded that a driver who speeds and weaves through traffic will arrive at any given destination just 50 seconds faster compared to a law-abiding driver (if they were going to the same place).

I don't know how commonly you guys see these, but those memorials to people who have died on the road always get to me. I saw one last month that had a big sign in front which said "Slow down, please"

The slogan speed kills is a misnomer. When the feds upped the limit to 65, many states were hesitant to go with it, "speed kills." When they finally did go up 55 -> 65, there was NO increase speed related deaths. I think the federal limit should be 80, with STEEP penalties for going faster than that, only by 2-3mph.

I routinely take the trip down/up 93 to 89 from MA/NH border to Vermont several times a year. The trip is about 180 miles. If I drive 65-70, it will take 3 1/2 hours, if I drive 80-90 (like I commonly do) it takes 2 3/4. In all honesty, I could care less about that extra 3/4 hour. I'm not necessarily in a rush, but the trip *seems* alot longer when driving slower. I wander off more when I drive slower. Driving 80-90-and sometimes 100+ on long straightaways keeps me on full alert, DEFCON 1. On that trip, exits are commonly 10 to 30 miles apart with virtually no traffic. I have no problem driving fast in those situations. BUT, when I get down into lower NH/MA border, the traffic becomes heavy and I always slow down to at least 75 or lower.

I don't advocate purely aggresive stupid driving. I've seen alot of ricers out there you drive 90-110 in heavy traffic areas in MA/NH. This is irresponsible especially when they tailgate people.

Tips:
- Change lanes slowly and early, don't wait until you get up to the person's ass in front of you and ALWAYS use your blinker, there's no reason not too.

- Obviously look ahead.

- Be completely aware of your surroundings, medians, bends in the road, cars, trucks, ANY crown vics.

- Be honest, every time I get pulled over I've gotten a ticket, BUT never lie to the cop, it only gets worse if you do.

- Buy a valentine 1 radar detector, I should too!

I've got more to say on the subject, but I gotta get to class!